You dream of traveling the world teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) and have worked hard to graduate from your chosen ESL program. It is time to start applying for your dream job. The steps for landing an ESL job are similar to the steps for landing any other job. You still need to prepare your resume, apply for the job and ace your interview. Here are some tips for landing a job after graduating from an ESL program.
You Probably Need a Bachelor’s Degree
If you are planning on using your ESL degree to gain entry into a foreign country like Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, etc. You will probably need to have a Bachelor’s degree in addition to your ESL degree because most countries want to be sure that you aren’t taking a job from a native before they will offer you residency.
What Kind of Jobs are Available?
Teaching ESL can be done in a variety of different ways and places. You can teach ESL in an English speaking country to immigrants who do not yet know the language. Or you can travel to a foreign country and teach English to natives who want to improve their English. It can be taught in a traditional classroom or in one-on-one tutoring sessions. It can be simply conversational practice for someone who already knows the basics and just needs to improve their pronunciation or it can be teaching using pictures for someone who doesn’t know any English at all. ESL classes can also be online or in person. Classes can be made up of children, Teens, Adults and even strictly Professionals or “Business English”.
What Courses Should You Take?
The primary 3 styles of courses are:
- 100% fully online courses- Good for people on a tight budget or with limited time.
- Partially Online- Partially in Class. Better chances to get a Job and real life practice teaching a class.
- 100% Fully in Class- Gives you more practice teaching.
Which Country Should You Choose?
Asia has the most ESL jobs, contracts typically last 6-12 months. Three Asian countries where you can make a lot of money teaching English are Japan, S. Korea and Hong Kong. China is one of the biggest markets for teaching ESL but you need to be sure that you are compatible with the local culture and that you have done a lot of research on the individual school before accepting a job.
You can make the most money in the Middle East so you need to have the best qualifications in order to get a job there. The Middle East also tends to have longer contract terms, i.e. 2-3 years. Housing can be expensive here so look for contracts that include housing.
Africa does not have many paying jobs. Many of the jobs are strictly for volunteers. One exception is Morocco which seems to have more paying jobs.
Europe is difficult as an American to get a work visa to teach ESL the exceptions might be Russia, Poland, and possibly the Czech Republic. On the other hand it is fairly easy for people from the UK to get a job in the rest of the E.U.
Central or South America does not pay the best and you should be cautious and really check out the school.
What the ESL Job Search Looks Like
Search an ESL job site like Dave’s ESL Cafe or Tefl.com. Dave’s is pretty much the number 1 website for ESL jobs including a huge list of available positions, plus it includes teacher tips and many other benefits. The advantage of Tefl.com is that they have a “one click” application process once you’ve created your profile. Typically you will have a “Skype” interview, and you may have to prepare “sample lesson”. So be prepared.
Meet Employers by Attending Job Fairs
Once you complete your ESL classes, create your resume and prepare for interviews, it is time to put your skills to the test. Start by attending different job fairs in your area. A job fair gives you the opportunity to meet and talk to employers in your career field. Use this event as an opportunity to deliver your resume and learn more about each job. You may land a job interview right on the spot.
Questions to ask in an ESL Interview
- Are there prepared lessons or will I have to prepare my own lessons?
- How many actual teaching hours will I have per week? Try not to take a job that requires more than 20-22 hrs/wk if you have to prepare your own lessons.
- What is the Dress code?
- Age of the students?
- Is housing included? Distance from School? Policy about leaving accommodation? Shared? Private?
- Transportation to School?
- Average cost of living?
There is a lot of work that goes into completing an ESL program, but the work does not stop once you complete your classes. Your next step is to work towards landing a great job in this area.
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